New Delhi, December 20
Probably the amateur detective in Abdul Rahman Antulay chose to ignore the very basics of police functioning or he just played a ‘political card’ when he thundered “who directed Hemant Karkare to Cama hospital during the Mumbai attacks needs to be probed….”
Karkare was shot dead. Antulay’s statements have raised a political storm, but the conspiracy theory has startled cops, who say the very basis of the allegation “who directed Karkare…” does not hold any ground. Antulay and several mediapersons did not realise that all conversations between the control room and Karkare, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar were on a wireless set.
The Mumbai police, like any other police force of the country, transcribes such wireless messages immediately. When a senior officer like Karkare, who was joint commissioner, speaks something on the wireless set, it is an order. The control room then further passes instructions quoting Karkare on the wireless to move vehicles and more men.
All this is transcribed and even the action taken by the control room is transcribed. Rather, even the replies of the subordinate staff over the wireless are transcribed.
Sources have explained that senior officers have typical wireless names like Charlie 1, Delta 1, or Bravo 1 which are used on the network. No personal name like “Hemant Karkare” or an officer’s rank is called out to address anyone on the walkie-talkie. A senior officer said Karkare was not some constable that he was taking orders, he was giving orders.
Antulay’s conspiracy theory has several holes. The investigators, who have pieced together the nabbed terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s journey, say the Mumbai police control room flashed a message saying there was a terror attack at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station.
Hemant Karkare reached CST from his Dadar residence on hearing that wireless message. He along with four policemen first went to the CST station’s platform number 1 and found it deserted, with no trace of any terrorists.
A fellow policeman informed them that the terrorists were spotted walking towards Cama Hospital located close to the CST. Kasab and his accomplice had indeed gone to the Cama Hospital from the CST.
Meanwhile, Karkare’s wireless set crackled with a message that “Additional police commissioner Sadanand Date was injured at Cama Hospital”. His bodyguard was seriously injured. ” This is also a fact and transcribed.
Karkare went to Cama Hospital. Some time later inspector Vijay Salaskar and additional commissioner Ashok Kamte, arrived on the scene at Cama Hospital. He was accompanied by five of his subordinates, Akhtar Shaikh, an orderly of Karkare, has told investigators.
In the meantime, another wireless message was flashed that the terrorists were hiding behind a red vehicle near Rang Bhavan. They started looking for the red vehicle and spotted one terrorist, who was later identified as Mohammad Ajmal Kasab. Kamte and Salaskar opened fire.
The second terrorist then returned fire from an AK 47 rifle killing Kamte and Karkare on the spot. This fact was reported by constable Arun Jhadav to the control room after the firing. Did Antulay go through any wireless records before making his political move, asked a police officer who is in the know of wireless records. Separately the Indian Mujahideen, in a letter sent through email to media following the Delhi blasts on September 13, had threatened the Mumbai ATS saying “…We are closely keeping an eye on you and just waiting for the proper time to execute your bloodshed. We are aware of the recent raids at Mograpada and Andheri and the harassment you have caused to Muslims..”
